Bridgeton pioneer., 1887-09-01
OLD LAND TITLES.
An Old Grant Found That
May Cause Litigation in
Nine Counties.

A number of the descendants of Col.
John Spicer, residing in Cape May
county, announce that they own about
one-fourth of the State of New Jersey.
They claim that several tracts of land
We're purchased by the Colonel late in
the eighteenth century from the West
Jersey Proprietors, the tracts contain
ing several hundred thousand acres
extending through nine counties, and
as far north as Hunterdon County.
A few days ago there was published
the statement that the heirs Of Mrs.
Mulford, who resided on the island
early in the century, were about to
bring suit for large tract of land To-
Gated in the busiest part of Cape May
City. The plot contains some four
hundred acres, and is worth an enor-
nous amount of money. No sooner
was this fact made known than
number of persons, claiming to be the
rightful owners of other tracts, came
forward.
James S. Leaning comes to the
front with a plausible story, and con-
siderable Importance is attached to his
statement, because he is one of
Cape Mays foremost citizens. He is
the great-grandson of old Col. Jacob
Spicer There are not many around
who knew the Colonel for he did busi-
ness on Cape May Island shortly
after the close of the Revolutionary
war.
Col. Spicer was an officeholder under
the West Jersey Proprietors, who are
still an intact body, and have much to
say about INDICATED land in South
Jersey. He purchased a large tract
of vacant land" along the shore. 1t
reached from the Delaware Bay side,
across the point, and up along the
shore. Land at that time was not
worth much, so it took quantity in
lieu of quality to create some value.
Col. Spicer had acres innumerahle. but
he did not think them worth much on
| the market. He held on to the deeds
and made it a rule never to interfere
with those who came around and exer
cised the right of squatter sovereignty.
/ A few years ago the West Jersey
Railroad Company built branch
road to Sea Isle City, a new resort on
Ludlam Beach. The company en-
countered much difficulty in securing
title to strip of barren land over
which it had to cross. No one claimed
the road to make searches. Several
attorneys were put to work looking up
the county and State records, and
their researches showed conclusively
that the titles for much of the land in
Cape May County were not perfect and
genuine. They discovered that the
rightful owners were the heirs of Jacob
Spicer. So confident were they of this
fact that they secured the right of
way over the land from these heirs.
The descendants of Jacob Spicer are
numerous in Cape May County. They
have employed counsel and believe
that they are the owners of large
tract of land along the New Jersey
coast extending from Cape May Point
to where Burlington County touches
the ocean. There is another strip
which goes inland and takes in part
of Cumberland Salem, Gloucester and
Camden counties There is also q
grant in Mercer and Hunterdon coun-
ties If all these claims can be substan-
tally authenticated there will be no
end of lawsuits, and the attorneys will
reap harvest of big fees.
The claim amounts to upward of two
hundred thousand acres; it includes
valuable farm land, several city plots
and much uncultivated land. A tract
of 8, 900 acres has just been discovered
on the Cohansey Creek in Cumberland
County, which can be located without
doubt by the claimants.
If the claims are pushed it will be
one of the most notable suits ever
tried in the United States, and it is
! doubtful whether the present genera
| ton will ever see its conclusion.
Another claimant for a tract of land
extending from Fishing Creek across
to Fummytown is heard from. He
claims to have in his possession the
will for this extensive property, which
entails it on the descendants of the
original will maker forever. This man
halls from the vicinity of Rio Grande.
Frank Brenn is now able to walk
some with his artificial limbs, although
one of his stumps is not sufficiently
healed to allow him to do so without
pain. His mother has offered, as an
| inducement for him to learn to walk,